Tech Report: SpaceX eyes Mars, social media disrupts travel

SpaceX is ramping up efforts to prepare its powerful new rocket for a potential Mars mission as early as next year.

(LILAMAX)- SpaceX is ramping up efforts to prepare its powerful new rocket for a potential Mars mission as early as next year. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company is reallocating personnel and resources to fast-track development. A key reason for the push: Earth and Mars will be closer together in 2026, offering a more favorable launch window. The mission may initially involve sending a robot to the Red Planet.

Traditional travel agents are taking a back seat as platforms like TikTok and Instagram become top resources for vacation planning. Hashtags like #TravelTikTok and #TikTokTravel have racked up millions of views, with influencers offering detailed guides on destinations, deals, and travel hacks. TikTok reports a 410% spike in travel content views between 2021 and 2024, and a recent influencer marketing study found that 32% of users booked stays they discovered on the app. Globally, 35% of travelers now turn to social media for travel inspiration.

Increased employee protests are prompting tighter security measures at major tech events. CNBC reports that undercover guards removed protestors from Microsoft Build, while security lined the mainstage at Google I/O. Some employees have been demonstrating over their companies’ contracts with the U.S. government or involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

President Donald Trump is once again turning up the heat on tech manufacturers. After warning Apple of a 25% tariff unless it moves iPhone production to the U.S., Trump now wants the same tariff applied to other phone makers, including Samsung. Bloomberg reports the tariff could be enacted by the end of June.